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EP-4221851-B1 - CONVERTIBLE CASTER BOARD

EP4221851B1EP 4221851 B1EP4221851 B1EP 4221851B1EP-4221851-B1

Inventors

  • CHEN, ROBERT
  • DESBERG, IAN
  • MCDONALD, KYLE
  • TAO, JERRY

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20210928

Claims (14)

  1. A convertible caster board assembly comprising: a first platform section (220) supported by a first caster assembly (240) including a first wheel; a second platform section (230), the second platform section comprising a plurality of wheel mounting locations, a first wheel mounting location (260c) of the plurality of wheel mounting locations being aligned with a longitudinal axis of the caster board, and a second wheel mounting location (260a) of the plurality of wheel mounting locations being laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the caster board, a third wheel mounting location (260b) of the plurality of wheel mounting locations is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the caster board on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the caster board as the second wheel mounting location, wherein the second and third wheel mounting locations (260a, 260b) are linearly aligned with the first mounting location (260c); the second platform section supported by a second caster assembly (250a) including a second wheel, the second caster assembly installed at one of the plurality of wheel mounting locations; and a connecting structure (210) extending between the first platform section and the second platform section.
  2. The convertible caster board assembly of Claim 1, wherein the second caster assembly is installed at the first wheel mounting location, and wherein no caster assemblies are installed at the second and third wheel mounting locations.
  3. The convertible caster board assembly of Claim 1, additionally comprising a third caster assembly including a third wheel, wherein the second caster assembly is installed at the second wheel mounting location, and wherein the third caster assembly is installed at the third wheel mounting location.
  4. The convertible caster board assembly of Claim 1, wherein the first wheel mounting location comprises an aperture extending through an angled mounting surface extending at an oblique angle from a lower surface of the second platform section and facing away from the connecting structure.
  5. The convertible caster board assembly of Claim 4, wherein the second wheel mounting location comprises an aperture extending through a second angled mounting surface extending at an oblique angle from a lower surface of the second platform section and facing away from the connecting structure.
  6. The convertible caster board assembly of Claim 4, wherein the second wheel mounting location comprises a second aperture extending through the angled mounting surface.
  7. The convertible caster board assembly of Claim 1, wherein the second wheel is part of a caster assembly
  8. The convertible caster board assembly of Claim 1, wherein the connecting structure permits the first platform section to twist about the longitudinal axis of the caster board relative to the second platform section.
  9. The convertible caster board assembly of Claim 1, wherein the connecting structure comprises a torsion bar.
  10. A method of converting the caster board of any of claims 1 to 9 between a first configuration and a second configuration, the caster board comprising a first platform section connected by a neck section to a second platform section, the method comprising: removing a caster assembly installed at a first mounting location on the second platform section; installing a caster assembly at a second mounting location on the second platform section, the first and second mounting locations laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the caster board by different distances.
  11. The method of Claim 10, wherein installing a caster assembly at the second mounting location on the first platform section comprises installing the caster assembly removed from the first mounting location on the first platform section.
  12. The method of Claim 10, additionally comprising installing a second caster assembly at a third mounting location on the first platform section, the third mounting location offset laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the caster board by the same distance as the second mounting location.
  13. The method of Claim 10, wherein the second mounting location is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the caster board.
  14. The method of Claim 10, wherein the first platform section comprises a rear section of the caster board, and wherein the second platform section comprises a front section of the caster board.

Description

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure This invention relates generally to wheeled vehicles, such as caster boards that include platforms connected by a torsion bar or other structure which allows relative rotation of the platforms relative to one another. Description of Certain Related Art Some caster boards are two-wheeled vehicles that includes a deck with two platforms that are connected by torsion bar and/or a neck region of the platform. The neck region and/or torsion bar can function as a torsion element and may be configured to resiliently twist along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. One or more wheels can be attached to each platform. The wheels can be a caster wheels. A rider can stand on the deck and obtain locomotion by pivoting the front and rear platforms relative to each other with a twisting motion. CN 207667107 discloses a skateboard device with a changeable installation form, which includes a platform and at least two wheel groups. The platform includes a front pedal and a rear pedal for receiving the feet of a user respectively, and the bottom surfaces of the front pedal and the rear pedal are provided with a plurality of mounting seats. In addition, the at least two wheel groups are detachably mounted on two of the plurality of mounting seats in a one-to-one manner to support the front pedal and the rear pedal. SUMMARY OF CERTAIN FEATURES In one broad aspect, a convertible caster board assembly is provided, according to claim 1. A third wheel mounting location of the plurality of wheel mounting locations is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the caster board on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the caster board as the second wheel mounting location. The second caster assembly can be installed at the first wheel mounting location, and where no caster assemblies are installed at the second and third wheel mounting locations. The convertible caster board assembly can additionally include a third caster assembly including a third wheel, where the second caster assembly is installed at the second wheel mounting location, and where the third caster assembly is installed at the third wheel mounting location. The first wheel mounting location can include an aperture extending through an angled mounting surface extending at an oblique angle from a lower surface of the second platform section and facing away from the connecting structure. The second wheel mounting location can include an aperture extending through a second angled mounting surface extending at an oblique angle from a lower surface of the second platform section and facing away from the connecting structure. The second wheel mounting location can include a second aperture extending through the angled mounting surface. The second wheel can be part of a caster assembly. The connecting structure can permit the first platform section to twist about the longitudinal axis of the caster board relative to the second platform section. The connecting structure can include a torsion bar. In another broad aspect, a convertible caster board assembly is provided, including a front platform section supported by a first caster assembly, a rear platform section connected to the front platform section by a neck and supported by a second caster assembly, the rear platform section including a plurality of mounting locations, the plurality of mounting locations including a central mounting location, a first offset mounting location laterally offset from the central mounting location in a first lateral direction, and a second offset mounting location laterally offset from the central mounting location in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction, the second caster assembly installed in one of the plurality of mounting locations. Each of the plurality of mounting locations can be configured to have the second caster assembly installed therein. Each of the plurality of mounting locations can include an aperture extending through a mounting surface oriented at an oblique angle to a lower surface of the rear platform. Each of the plurality of mounting locations underlies a depression in an upper surface of the rear platform section. The neck can include a torsion bar. In another broad aspect, a method of converting a caster board between a first configuration and a second configuration is provided, the caster board including a first platform section connected by a neck section to a second platform section, the method including removing a caster assembly installed at a first mounting location on the first platform section, and installing a caster assembly at a second mounting location on the first platform section, the first and second mounting locations laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the caster board by different distances. Installing a caster assembly at the second mounting location on the first platform section can include installing the caster assembly removed from the first mounting location on t